EVERETT — When Gail Fischer received a note in the mail telling him that he had won a Monte Cristo award from the city of Everett, he thought surely it must be a prank played by a neighbor.
“I was totally surprised. Then when I found out it was real, I was humbled and honored,” said Fischer, 69. “But, I still don’t know who nominated our place.”
Everett’s annual Monte Cristo awards honor homeowners and business owners for efforts to beautify the city by enhancing the “street appeal” of their properties. Winners receive a plaque to install near their front doors.
Fischer has a notably beautiful front and side yard at an intersection viewed by many of his neighbors
“We get compliments all the time,” Fischer said.
He and his wife, Victoria, bought their 1969-era house east of Silver Lake about 34 years ago and raised their son and daughter there.
Over the years, and especially since Fischer’s retirement, they filled in an unused ditch, felled some scraggly Douglas firs, got rid of most of the lawn, put in raised vegetable beds and planted a variety of trees, shrubs and flowers that keep color in the garden nearly year-round. Especially beautiful now are the Chilson’s Pride pink and white dahlias in the front garden.
The city has been bestowing Monte Cristo awards and encouraging pride in Everett’s neighborhoods for 20 years. A ceremony to honor this year’s winners is set for 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Everett Performing Arts Center.
The coveted award inspires neighbors to make the most of the property they own, said Deborah Wright, director of neighborhoods and community services.
Fischer agrees that his yard and those of many of his neighbors’ probably add to the property values of the neighborhood.
“People getting ready to sell their homes often mention in their sales flyers that the home has won a Monte Cristo award,” Wright said. “That tells us how important the awards have become over the years.”
The award ceremony will feature photo presentations of the winning homes and businesses. In addition, the Marian Krell Award, which recognizes superior care on an ongoing basis by a prior Monte Cristo award winner, will be given to Ed and Marilyn Larson in the Harborview-Seahurst-Glenhaven neighborhood.
A committee of Everett people and the city’s Council of Neighborhoods make the final award selections.
Fischer’s sunny garden in front of his crisp white and green-trimmed house is dominated by a monkey puzzle tree, a native of Chile, that he planted shortly after his family moved in. Fischer figures the tree is now about 70 feet tall. He planted his nearby palm tree just last year.
Along with those exotics, Fischer grows rhododendrons, a native vine maple, a flowering cherry, dahlias, Japanese maples, an aspen, lilies, sedums, a sweet gum maple, peonies, roses and a variety of ground-cover flowers.
His edibles include peas, rhubarb, grapes, pumpkins and other squash.
“I’m glad I took out most of the lawn. I was tired of mowing so much,” said Fischer, a 1964 graduate of Everett High School and grandfather of three. “I am happy with the way things have turned out and glad that other people like it, too.”
Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427; gfiege@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @galefiege.
Monte Cristo awards ceremony
The city of Everett’s 20th annual Monte Cristo awards ceremony is 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, at the Everett Performing Arts Center, 2710 Wetmore Ave. The awards recognize home and business owners who make their properties attractive and keep them in good shape. The ceremony includes photo presentations of the homes and businesses recognized. Free parking is available in the Trinity Lutheran College garage, a block from the arts center.
2014 Monte Cristo award winners (see gallery)
Neighborhood-friendly business owner awards:
- Boulevard Bluffs: Harvey and Maxine Brink for Adagio Adult Family Home.
- Delta: The Vintage at Everett.
- Glacier View: Bruce and Dorrie Houghton.
- Port Gardner: Baker, Lewis, Schwisow &Laws firm, Rainier Building Corp.
Pride of the neighborhood homeowner awards:
- Bayside: Erika Baxter, Mari
- Hudson and Carole Holleman, Rick and Shelley Sutton.
- Boulevard Bluffs: Sandra Forman.
- Cascade View: Katharyn Stucky, Thanh Ho and Tho Tran, Lloyd and Penny Marthaler.
- Delta: Celine Larson, Shannon Stine, Sabrina Doucette.
- Evergreen: Wendell Kruse, Dianne Taucher, Jesus Abad.
- Glacier View: Jeffrey and Virginia Woodhouse, Jerry and Katie Shaffer, Gregory and Nga Goldfinch.
- Harborview: Vannara Martin.
- Lowell: James Jackson.
- Northwest: William and Berneva Long, Erik and Mariah Miller, Joe Bagley, Frederick Stephenson, Larry and Maribeth Halstead.
- Pinehurst: Susan Dawson.
- Riverside: Kathleen O’Leary.
- Silver Lake: John Baron, Gail Fischer.
- South Forest Park: Philip and Wendy Bramall, Robert B. Witham and Bobby Carr, Scott and Zhanna Coble.
- Twin Creeks: Marle Kerr, Steven and Theresa McShane, Harold and Cherie Weitkamp.
- Valley View: Mike Siders and Toni Lovold, Eugene and Corrine Walker.
- View Ridge/Madison: Mark and Kimberlie Cordell, Michael and Denise Davis.
Rejuvenation and transformation awards to homeowners:
- Bayside: Cuong Nguyen, Torey Griesman.
- Delta: Mark and Missie Crook.
- Evergreen: Ferdinand and Nelia Morden
- Harborview: Stephen Quimby and Leigh Fugate.
- Northwest: Michael and
- Suzanne Britsch, Todd and Holly Taylor, Travis and Debbie Danforth
- Pinehurst: Roger and Cristina Mehl
- Port Gardner: Nathan and Leta Holt, Vladan Milosavijevic, Jason and Rachel Mohn.
- Riverside: Duane and Adele Gavin, Marlene Eckman, Scott and Laura and Merl and Shirley Weatherhogge.
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